Retail statistics covering the four weeks 28 April – 25 May 2019 from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the KPMG retail sales monitor show that on a total basis, sales decreased by 2.7% in May. Excluding Easter distortions, this is the worst ... 

The Summer Outdoor Leisure Exhibition which will be opening its doors to buyers from within the garden industry on 9 July 2019, has launched its very own website to help visitors to register and attend the event.This new website has an interactive ... 

Our homes make one of the biggest contributions to our overall happiness and wellbeing, according to new research from Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, and the Happiness Research Institute, the independent think tank focusing on well-being, ... 

Retail sales in the year to May fell at the fastest pace since October 2017, as tough trading and Brexit uncertainty result in retail investment intentions seeing a sharp decline in recent months to hit record low, according to the latest quarterly ... 

Garden centre sales are 27% up based on the calendar year to April 2019 vs 2018, according to the May 2019 issue of HTA Market Update published this week.In April, sales of plant and garden ranges continued to fare well, experiencing significant ... 

Somerset-based tool supplier Toolstream has celebrated turning 10 years old.The company hosted an action-packed day a couple of weeks ago with masses of activities. A pallet wood building competition took centre stage, with entrants re-using timber ... 

Online shopping giant Amazon has announced it plans to open 10 pop up shops in various UK town centre locations. The exact towns have not been announced however there will be openings in Wales, Scotland, The Midlands, Yorkshire and the South East of ... 

Kitchenware retail chain ProCook announced it is closing the Steamer Trading brand, as the business explains it "needs to protect the rest of its portfolio", with the “best route to success to utilise the most profitable sites in expansion plans... 

Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 78% of adults use smartphones but, according to one hi-tech horticultural company, most garden centres are failing to engage with their tech-savvy customers.The study found that mobiles ... 

The former Toys 'R Us unit in Chatham, Kent, will be subdivided between four businesses in spring 2020, two of which are an Aldi and Home Bargains.The development is set to create more than 190 new jobs and a Royal London spokesman said it will ... 

In a bid to grow its garden offer at stores across the UK, the supermarket giant has applied for planning permission to erect a new glazed garden centre structure at its branch off Brenner Road, just north of Spalding.The proposal is for “a new PPC ... 

Garden centres across the country enjoyed positive sales in furniture and barbecue departments thanks to one of the hottest Easter breaks on record in April.Sales of furniture and barbecues were up 28.36% compared to the same month in 2018, ... 

An industry report has found that almost a fifth of leading UK e-retailers are missing out on potential sales, due to a lack of connection with their customers’ extended social circles. These figures have worsened since a similar study was carried ... 

The high street retailer posted a total sales decline of -4.1% to £2.68million across the business for the week ended May 25, with home and outdoor living struggling in its department stores, whilst Waitrose saw sales of outdoor plants soar 21%.... 

Department store, John Lewis and DIY chains, Toolstation and Screwfix all managed land take top-10 positions in the survey, showing customers received a positive experience when shopping in the sector ... 

The Travis Perkins-owned chain is ploughing ahead with its expansion programme, opening four new trade counters in a week next month.On June 10, Toolstation will open a trade counter on Buxton Road in Hazel Grove, less than five miles from its ... 

Research from online outdoor living retailer, Internet Gardener, which included analysing thousands of Instagram posts, has revealed the indoor plants most favoured by millennials.Millennial interest in these plants is so great that plant retailers ... 

The online retail giant’s new Counter service, launched this month in the UK and Italy, enables quick and easy collection of Amazon parcels from popular retail outlets and convenience stores, including fashion, home and garden retailer, Next.Amazon ... 

Brand new research from independent job board, CV-Library reveals that, despite 64% of retail professionals working more hours than they’re contracted to, 68% struggle to make ends meet at the end of each month. The study surveyed 1,200 working ... 

As part of its commitment to help sustain the environment, Covers Timber & Builders Merchants has announced it will no longer be providing plastic bags to its customers.The business, which has its headquarters on Quarry Lane in Chichester, West ...